Hurst Marchant: Idaho Wheat Commission Budget Focused On Growers

Earlier this year, the Idaho Wheat Commission approved a $3.5 million budget.  Britany Hurst Marchant, Executive Director of Idaho Wheat, said the budget is slightly larger than previous budgets, but for the most part is in line with figures used over recent budget cycles.

“We did increase our assessment by one penny last year, so July 1st, 2023," Hurst Marchant said.  "So, our budget is a little bit higher because of that. But our budget traditionally is split into three different buckets and pretty evenly divided. Pretty evenly between research market development and then grower programs, outreach and communication.”

Hurst Marchant says the Commission looks at the funds as an investment in the industry.  And those funds are turned around a given to the University of Idaho, Washington State University, Oregon State University and Utah State University for a number of projects that benefit wheat growers in a variety of ways.

“That research a number of big buckets or big umbrellas that will impact wheat development," she noted.  "So whether that's variety development test. And Disease Control research mitigation, things like that.” 

When it comes to that research arm of the Commission, Hurst Marchant added their typically send out an RFP [Request For Proposal} in the fall, and then review those projects in February before deciding what kind of funding will be handed out.

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